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MEXICO 
It is well known to all who have read the history of Mexico, that at the 
period of the conquest by Cortez, this Island was a spot sacred to sepultura 
and sacrifice. 
Owing to the inertness of the Mexican Government, no thorough explo- 
ration has as yet been made, but it has been left to the enterprise of 
commanders of vessels, and especially of vessels of war, who, taking 
advantage of their detention at anchor under the lee of the island, have 
rummaged the sands in search of Indian remains, which have been car- 
ried to other lands, and are thus for ever lost to Mexico. 
In 1841, Monsieur Dumanoir, who commanded the French corvette 
Ceres, undertook to explore the island. In the centre of it he discovered 
sepulchres, the bones in which were in admirable preservation ; vases of 
clay, adorned with paintings and engraved ; arms, idols, collars, bracelets, 
teeth of dogs and tigers, and a variety of architectural designs. In one 
place he found a vase of white marhle ; and in the Museum at Mexico 
there is now preserved another, also found at Sacrificios, of which the 
following is the classic shape and adornment : 
I give the form of another vase found in this island, which, though nei- 
ther beautiful nor classical as the one above represented, is remarkable 
for the oddness of its outline. 
